(The news comes as a surprise to all the Notre Dame fans who lit candles at the grotto before the BCS national championship.)

The survey of 1,033 adults also found that 53 percent of Americans believe God rewards athletes who have faith.

(With backup quarterbacking jobs in New Jersey.)

Sports Illustrated ran a cover story this week asking whether God cares who wins the Super Bowl. It's reflexive to sneer at such a statement. Why would God care about something as trivial as the result of a football game? Doesn't He have bigger concerns?

But who am I to say God doesn't care? I wasn't at the burning bush. Neither were you.

It's not like you have to believe St. Peter is running Super Bowl squares beyond the pearly gates to think God plays a role in determining an outcome. If Ray Lewis believes his play is impacted by God and Colin Kaepernick believes the same, God has had affected the game, right?

You don't have to be a believer to accept the power of prayer. Whether it comes from a divine source is almost beyond the point. If a person believes in prayer and is strengthened by it, doesn't that confirm its existence?